Salary cap extends to Second Division

The salary cap, which was introduced in the 2003/04 season in the Third Division, is also to be introduced into the Second Division for the start of next season. Athletic will have to cut their wages irrespective of which division they will be playing their football next year. When Chris Moore was at the helm the wage bill was equivalent to the turnover but cuts have been made in the post Moore era.

The ceiling will be a maximum of 60% of turnover on players’ wages, a figure that Athletic are currently above. Should the unthinkable happen, and the Latics get relegated, turnover will drop and this would make the situation even more critical. Athletic are therefore delaying decisions on all eleven of the out of contract players. Alan Hardy explained, “We are basing our plans for next season on playing in the second division but cannot proceed until we know for definite we will be staying up.”